When Janet O’Connell went to work on a day in early May, she had no idea she would soon be called a hero.
O’Connell is a school bus driver who works for Imagine Schools in West Melbourne, Florida. She has always loved children, and she is always ready to go above and beyond for these little guys.
Just like she did last month, when her instinct worked and she saved 40 students from the school bus that caught on fire.
Only ten minutes after beginning her route, the bus driver saw smoke coming from the hood of the bus. O’Connell didn’t wait for any other sign. She knew that this meant there was an emergency.
The brave lady’s instinct was telling her that something was very wrong and that she needed to save the children she was driving home.
Without a second thought, the woman started helping the 40 students, whose ages varied from kindergarten to sixth grade, evacuate the vehicle.
Fortunately, she managed to get all the children out right before the first flames appeared on the bus.
And, although the camera of the bus was burnt during the fire, a bystander caught on camera the moment when the vehicle caught on fire.
In that video, Ms O’Connell can be seen exhausted standing by a tree and watching the bus she had just evacuated get burnt.
But, although what this woman did sounds like something only a superhero would do, people who have known O’Connell for years explain that this is just the kind of person she is.
She has always been there for the children who ride the bus that she drives, and she is definitely the kind of person that is ready to help anyone in need.
The principal of the school that she works for told WKMG News that what she did for those 40 children did not come as a surprise to him or her colleagues.
“When there’s a child in need, she steps up,” school principal Brian DeGonzague said.
The school also wrote a statement on social media trying to explain what caused the fire.
“This afternoon we had an electrical issue on one of our school buses that resulted in the bus having to pull over and evacuate,” they said, adding that “the bus did end up catching fire.”
Besides thanking the bus driver for her quick action, the school also praised the children for being so cooperative and for being kind enough to help one another.
“We are blessed that everyone is safe,” the school added. “This is due to the quick actions of our driver, Ms. Janet, and the students. We are proud that our students showed how they are leaders of great character as they assisted one another.”
On top of everything, what needs to be highlighted is that the bus driver didn’t even get the day after the incident off. She just went back to work just like any other day.
What a blessing to have such a person drive your child to school.
Find out the details of the story in the video below.
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